By: Sharon Njeru.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has sharply criticized Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for publicly targeting Noordin Haji, the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), in the wake of the protests against the Finance Bill 2024. Gachagua had accused Haji of failing to adequately inform the president about the potential fallout from the Finance Bill, which he claimed could have averted the nationwide demonstrations that led to chaos and loss of lives. Consequently, the Deputy President called for Haji’s resignation.
In a Thursday statement, Nassir questioned Gachagua’s decision to address such sensitive security matters publicly instead of resolving them behind closed doors. He stressed that such public attacks were inappropriate and contrary to the Deputy President’s oath of office.
“It is deeply concerning that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has chosen to publicly prosecute national security issues in the public domain, degenerating into personal attacks against Mr. Noordin Haji, the Director General of the National Intelligence Service, while absolving Mr. Japhet Koome, the Inspector General of Police, for the reckless manner in which our young people were handled by the police over the past week,” he said.
Nassir pointed out the horror experienced by Kenyans as they watched young people being killed or abducted while exercising their democratic rights.
He also criticized Gachagua for not accepting responsibility for the Finance Bill 2024, noting that as the chair of all cabinet sub-committees, the Deputy President was fully aware of the government’s decisions and the public sentiment regarding over taxation. Nassir emphasized that Gachagua’s remarks were harmful to national unity and could potentially exploit ethnic divisions.
“At a time when the young generation has lost faith in the direction the country is moving, such remarks only serve to fuel confusion and public anger. It is regrettable that the Deputy President would casually discuss sensitive security matters in public instead of in the constitutional body – the National Security Council in which he is a member.”
Nassir further suggested that Gachagua’s criticism of Haji appeared to be a political maneuver to create a scapegoat for internal conflicts within the Kenya Kwanza Administration.
“Kenyans need leadership. If there is one thing that our young people have shown the world, it is that common purpose can transcend narrow ethnic balkanization. We call upon the Deputy President to follow the lead of our young people and focus on issues rather than using this solemn moment in history to fight personal wars.”
Press Corp 